Qantas Club Guest Dilemma

[the_krust]

Hi everyone,

firstly I'd like to thank everyone who contributes to the board. I have picked up lots of tips so far!

My dilemma is that on Friday I am leaving to travel to Paris (via London on Qantas QF31) with my family on a "family" holiday. The first one in years! I am a Qantas Club Member and so is my father. Unfortuantely there are five members in my party (my sister, Mum and aunt). I know that you are allowed one guest per member, which leaves someone outside.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get the extra member into the lounge at Singapore? Qantas told me that I could by a guest pass for ~$200 I think, but that makes it quite expensive as apart from this trip, I have never travelled with the family.

We are travelling back at different times so it's only the stop at Singapore that will be an issue.

Cheers
Kristi

 

[hardya]

There are two types of "guest" passes for QF Clubs. One is the guest passes that they send you to enable you to invite one guest per member. However, there are also the other entry passes which Qantas send out to non-QF-club bronze tier members who just attain silver status. These can be used without requiring the holder to be accompanied a QF Club member. These sometimes sell on Ebay (cannot find any on there now), or you could ask around to try and get one.

 

[AlwaysUpThere]

Aside from any tips here, try the honesty approach - if all else fails when you get there, just explain the situation and as its a kid, they'll probably let you all in. SIN QF lounge is operated by QF - not a partner lounge - so the chances are pretty good (if its a partner lounge, the partner charges QF for each person through the door...)

Good luck.

 

[aus_flyer]

I agree with the above post about trying the honesty approach, but I suggest going one step further.

There have been a few times when I have needed to take an extra guest in, and I ring the lounge ahead of the day and explain the situation. I have found that they will often make a note in their diary that you are coming and let you in without a problem.

Good to see Qantas thinking with their head for once.

 

[danielh]

Or you can buy one of mine. Need some spare cash so willing to accept any reasonable offer.

Regards
Daniel

 

[QF WP]

People on this forum like NM have taken 7 family members with only him being Plat and Mrs NM being QC - they all got in everywhere they went (it wasa RTW).

If you are a family group, they are unlikely to separate you unless they have capacity problems - at which point, they'd probably deny you all.

 

[NM]

People on this forum like NM have taken 7 family members with only him being Plat and Mrs NM being QC - they all got in everywhere they went (it wasa RTW).

If you are a family group, they are unlikely to separate you unless they have capacity problems - at which point, they'd probably deny you all.

Certainly have . But the difference here may be that 3 of those were children.

I have even been welcomed into domestic Qantas Club lounges when Mrs NM was flying (when no FF or member status) with Mini NM#4, and we all entered including 3 other Mini NM's based on my Platinum FF status. No questions asked, just welcomed into the lounge.

On our RTW holiday, I did make prior arrangements with a few lounges to let them know that we would be coming and asking if they would permit access for 4 adults and 3 kids based on my Platinum FF status and Mrs NM's Partner Qantas Club membership. One was by phone calls to the Brisbane International lounge the day before we flew, and the other was in person at the AKL lounge when I flew through by myself the week before our holiday. Both noted it in their desk diary and were expecting us when we arrived. In BNE they asked us to use the Business Class lounge as the F lounge is small, while in AKL we were welcome to use the F lounge. In HKG they also asked us to use the Business Class lounge.

Back when the member's guest passes were used, I was sometimes asked for a guest pass or two when taking the kids into the lounge. But since the guest passes have been removed, I have never been denied access with the children.

But if the guests are all adults, it will be a different story. You will need to have the necessary guest access rights to bring them into the lounge.

One possible way is to find a solo travelling Qantas Club member (or Gold FF status person) and ask them to permit one of your party to enter as their guest. If I was approached politely by someone in your situation, I would be happy to oblige. I rarely have a guest to take into the lounge anyway.

In fact, one time in CDG I was waiting at the desk to enter the BA lounge with a travelling colleague. We were both OneWorld Emerald flying on the BA flight number back to London in Club Europe. So we were both entitled to one guest. In front of us as the desk were a couple who were being denied access because they were Qantas Club members flying on the QF codeshare, and that lounge at CDG is not actually a BA lounge, but an AF lounge shared by BA, so no access to non-BA flyers. So my colleague and I just showed our Emerald cards and told the desk agent that these two Aussies in front were now our guests and we all entered the lounge together.

 

[the_krust]

Thanks NM and everyone.

I think I will try and call ahead to Singapore. This might sound like a dumb question but where do I find the phone number for the Singapore Qantas Club Lounge. I did have a look on the website but drew a blank. I am in the middle of exams this week so my mind is mush.

Failing that I think I will ask a solo member if they mind taking my Aunt in with them! We are quite a respectible looking family (I think) with two grown up kids (My sister and I) so hopefully someone will take pity on us!

My sister doesn't drink so she won't be using up the alcohol! I usually stick to the Campari - which I believe I must be the only person in the world who drinks it. I have checked the line on the bottle before and it often appears to be the same when I return a few months later!

I'll let you all know how I go!

 

[QF WP]

The SIN QC details are shown on this page

Ph: + 65 6395 3566

 

[NM]

I think I will try and call ahead to Singapore. This might sound like a dumb question but where do I find the phone number for the Singapore Qantas Club Lounge. I did have a look on the website but drew a blank. I am in the middle of exams this week so my mind is mush.

Have a look here:

http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/qantasClub/loungeLocations/asia

 

[the_krust]

Hi everyone,

I 'd like to happily report that my family had no trouble getting into the Sydney, Singapore and London lounges. Obviously we were all travelling together and the staff were all extremely friendly and helpful!

My only complaint is how boring the lounge in Sydney is compared to Singapore and London! It's been ages since I have been into the QC at Sydney. I am usually the person who checks in just in time for boarding in Sydney! No internet, and they shut all the bars except for one at 9pm! We had to trek all the way to the other end just to get a glass of water. Normally I would have moved, but I needed to watch the Swans in the prelimenary final (GO swans!)

When I entered the Singapore lounge - what a transforamation - the place is fantastic! - even at 4am!

I shouldnt complain about the Sydney QC - the Qantas staff were so helpful wherever we went and even on the place at the back of cattle class

Now I am off to find somewhere in Paris that willbe showing the Grand Final!

Go Sydney!

 

[thadocta]

My only complaint is how boring the lounge in Sydney is compared to Singapore and London! It's been ages since I have been into the QC at Sydney. I am usually the person who checks in just in time for boarding in Sydney! No internet, and they shut all the bars except for one at 9pm! We had to trek all the way to the other end just to get a glass of water. Normally I would have moved, but I needed to watch the Swans in the prelimenary final (GO swans!)

Huh? SYD International is a fairly small lounge, and has a self-service bar, so how can they "shut all the bars"?

SIN looks out onto - ummm, it was so forgettable, I forget what it looks out on, at least at SYD you can look at something aviation related (vaguely remember something resembling a water feature at SIN, was so memorable I fogot it after being the lounge for two minutes).

Only downside for the SYD lounge was the drinks offering, beer was decidedly down-market, and not up to par with the domestic lounge offering.

LHR, depends on which of the T4 lounges you go to - which one did you visit?

Dave

 

[the_krust]

Huh? SYD International is a fairly small lounge, and has a self-service bar, so how can they "shut all the bars"?

Well they did! I was up one far end watching the footy - and the self serve bar was closed. Walked to the one near reception that was closed to. Needed to walk to the one at the other end to get a drink.

Now normally this wouldn't be a problem but there was no way I could get there and back between goals!!!

 

[thadocta]

Huh? SYD International is a fairly small lounge, and has a self-service bar, so how can they "shut all the bars"?

Well they did! I was up one far end watching the footy - and the self serve bar was closed. Walked to the one near reception that was closed to. Needed to walk to the one at the other end to get a drink.

Okay, so they hadn't actually shut ALL the bars then?

Dave

 

[the_krust]

No. But that's not what I said...


Not to be pedantic but I actually said they shut all except for one. Unfortuantely for me that was the bar furthest away from where i was sitting!

 

[serfty]

... My only complaint is how boring the lounge in Sydney is ... No internet, and they shut all the bars except for one at 9pm! We had to trek all the way to the other end just to get a glass of water. Normally I would have moved, but I needed to watch the Swans in the prelimenary final (GO swans!) ...

I have seen all except on of the bars closed like this before. Avery one except for that nearest the F lounge. There used to be TV's up there as well, but that area was swalloped up when the F lounge was enlarged.

There are actually 5 - 6 internet PC's in the J lounge, the entry for these is immediately after the counter to the right of the entrance as you come in.

 

[acampbel]

But back to the main topic ...

I have travelled a few times with the family (wife and 2 kids) and have never been refused entry to a QC lounge. But on last year's trip to the UK we had a BA flight from LHR to SIN (I had to do this to save the 10,000 points it otherwise would have cost to do a stopover with Qantas).

Anyway, we fronted up at Heathrow after chunneling back from Paris that day (i.e. already slightly shagged) and I was surprised to be knocked back by the BA lounge staff on the basis of 1 guest only. The kids were 2 and 4 at the time and I thought they were being a bit stingy. Anyway, the wife went shopping with Master 4, I took Missy 2 in to the playroom and made myself 3 martini-strength G&T's, and we met up again at the gate.

I don't know if it would be any different if I had called beforehand to explain my situation, but it seems pretty unreasonable to expect QC members to fork out $$$'s for an extra membership that might be used a couple of times a year to get the kids into the lounge. I think I prefered the 10 guest cards per year scheme.


Cheers,

AC

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: But back to the main topic ...

Anyway, we fronted up at Heathrow after chunneling back from Paris that day (i.e. already slightly shagged) and I was surprised to be knocked back by the BA lounge staff on the basis of 1 guest only. The kids were 2 and 4 at the time and I thought they were being a bit stingy. Anyway, the wife went shopping with Master 4, I took Missy 2 in to the playroom and made myself 3 martini-strength G&T's, and we met up again at the gate.

I don't know if it would be any different if I had called beforehand to explain my situation, but it seems pretty unreasonable to expect QC members to fork out $$$'s for an extra membership that might be used a couple of times a year to get the kids into the lounge. I think I prefered the 10 guest cards per year scheme.

How is it stingy of BA to restrict access to the lounge to that which is permitted? were qantas guest cards able to be used to exceed the normal allowance of one at BA lounges?

Dave

 

[serfty]

Re: But back to the main topic ...

... was surprised to be knocked back by the BA lounge staff on the basis of 1 guest only. The kids were 2 and 4 at the time and I thought they were being a bit stingy. ...

You were lucky that things have changed; once upon a time Children were not permitted in a BA lounge at all[/b].

In 1998 I (Emerald) was travelling with mrs serfty (QP), MIL & 6 YO mini serfty. Travelling SIN-xLHR-DUB. I was unable to gain admittance at LHR T1 for mini serfty.

 

[albatross710]

BKK by the rules

Came through with a business partner at BKK last night so he was my 1 guest into the QP. Whle wandering the shops, I then ran into the elderly lady whom was sitting next to me on the flight. As the lounge had only a few people I checked at the service desk if an extra guest would be OK. No go "only1 guest per person".

A quick walk into the lounge and a nice sole traveller loaned me a boarding pass which got my extra guest into the lounge. Same result just took a little longer.

The lady that loaned me her boarding pass was travelling LHR-SYD. When she got off in BKK she was OP UP to business for the remainder of the journey. I seems the generosity can be returned.